Method and workflow for simplified tuning of 3d printers

Abstract

A method includes providing values for a set of tunable build parameters corresponding to a print job specification to a user interface, and in response to user modification or selection of the tunable build parameters, computing values for a set of additional build parameters. A data package is created based on the values for the tunable build parameters and the set of additional build parameters and data files are then sent to one or more 3D printers and one or more slicing programs.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing values for a set of user-tunable build parameters corresponding to a print job specification in a first user interface;   allowing user selection of settings for parameters in the set of user-tunable build parameters to thereby generate a set of user-selected build parameters;   computing values for a set of additional build parameters based on the set of user selected build parameters;   generating a data package based on the set of user-selected build parameters and the set of additional build parameters; and   sending the data package to one or more designated 3D printers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a second user interface that allows a user to select which 3D printers are to be sent the values for the set of additional build parameters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second user interface displays all 3D printers that a set of user credentials is authorized to send values for tunable build parameters to. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the values for the set of additional build parameters are determined by the computing device from the values for the set of user-selected build parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data package further comprises a value for at least one conversion parameter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising providing a user interface that allows a user to select at least one slicing program to receive the value for the at least one conversion parameter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the value for the at least one conversion parameter, the values for the set of tunable build parameters and the values for the set of additional build parameters are all associated with the same print job specification, and wherein the print job specification comprises a combination of printer type and part material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the print job specification further comprises a support material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the print job specification further comprises a slice height. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the print job specification further comprises a nozzle size. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising:
 receiving the data package at one of the designated 3D printers; 
 receiving build instructions at the 3D printer that received the data package; 
 determining a material loaded in the 3D printer from electronics on a spool holding the material; 
 using the determined material to utilize the data package and/or select parameters from the data package. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the part material is a generic material type selected from a list comprising generic material types, and wherein the user-tunable build parameters presented in the first user interface are the default parameters for printing the generic material type. 
     
     
         13 . A computer comprising:
 a memory having executable instructions; and   a processor executing the executable instructions to perform steps comprising:
 receiving values for tunable build parameters for at least two combinations of printer type and part material; 
 sending the received values for the at least two combinations of printer type and part material to a server; 
 receiving a single package from the server containing values for additional build parameters for each of the at least two combinations of printer type and part material; and 
 sending additional build parameters for the at least two combinations of printer type and part material to a 3D printer such that a part can be printed. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer of claim of  claim 13  wherein sending build parameters for the at least two combinations of printer type and part material to a 3D printer comprises sending the build parameters for the at least two combinations of printer type and part material to multiple 3D printers. 
     
     
         15 . The computer of  claim 14  wherein the processor performs a further step comprising displaying a user interface that provides controls to allow a user to select the multiple 3D printers. 
     
     
         16 . The computer of  claim 15  wherein the processor performs a further step comprising using a user's credentials to determine which 3D printers appear in the user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The computer of  claim 13  wherein the at least two combinations of printer type and part material comprises a first combination comprising a first printer type and a first part material and a second combination comprising the first printer type and a second part material. 
     
     
         18 . The computer of  claim 13  wherein the at least two combinations of printer type and part material comprises a first combination comprising a first printer type and a first part material and a second combination comprising a second printer type and the first part material. 
     
     
         19 . The computer of  claim 13  wherein at least one of the values for additional build parameters is based on a value for the tunable parameter. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing values for a set of tunable build parameters to a computing device;   in response, receiving from the computing device values for at least one conversion parameter and a set of additional build parameters; and   sending the value for the at least one conversion parameter to a slicing program and the values for the set of additional build parameters to a 3D printer.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising sending the values for the set of additional build parameters to a plurality of 3D printers. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing a user interface that allows a user to select which 3D printers are to be sent the values for the set of additional build parameters. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein providing a user interface comprises providing a user interface that allows the user to indicate that the value for the at least one conversion parameter is to be sent to the slicing program. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein at least some of the values for the set of additional build parameters are determined by the computing device from the values for the set of tunable build parameters. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the value for the at least one conversion parameter, the values for the set of tunable build parameters and the values for the set of additional build parameters are all associated with a same combination of printer type and part material.